Lawyers’ fun night thrills

BY NICHOLAS OPOLOT

On November 10, all roads led to Nkoyoyo Hall for the lawyers’ fun night. Organised by the Uganda Christian University Law Society, the event attracted both current and former law students, as well as students from other courses.

The theme and the hashtag of the night was the ‘lawyers must tip’, and indeed the energetic performances from the various performers liven up the crowds.

UCU alumni like Brian Kiira, the former Law Society president, and Leon Amutuheire attended the event. The first performance came from Afrie (soloist), Mukuki (guitarist) and Wake the poet (drummer).

This trio was arguably the best act of the night, judging by the standing ovation and rapturous applause they got from the audience. They did renditions of Asa’s ‘I’ll be waiting’, Zahara’s ‘Loliwe’, and crowned their performance with the ‘Askari’ ballad.

Other performances were from Peter Baguma and I (Nicholas Opolot) who strummed along a musical poem, ‘Broken musings of the Matooke Republic’. Joseph Lagen and Jean Paul, alias JP, made a vivid impression of their concurrent musical acts.

JP did a mind-blowing instrumental of Mr. Probz’s ‘Waves’ whereas Lagen plucked away to the keys of a soul ballad.

Jordan Megalonyo as usual, nailed it with the ‘The Jesus App’. And yes, the Bravas Dance Group wowed the crowd with their energetic moves!

Meanwhile the emcees Joel Otim and the sarcastic Boris Twesigye did their thing adding gusto whilst cracking hilarious jokes about height, colour and so on, as the Honours College crooners stepped in to finish their ‘Hallelujah’.

It should also be noted that secular performances were disallowed for purposes of maintaining the sanctity and true religious hallmarks of UCU.

In that regard, performers like Peace Amanda were cut short despite a remarkable start. Nonetheless, the night lived up to its billing!

The least used application on my phone is the FM radio. I do not tune in at home and when I buy a vehicle, the first thing I will disable is the radio. Judging from my taxi escapades, I think radios have a way of making journeys longer.

However, there is one radio that won my heart and was immediately exempted from this dislike – the Mowzey Radio. Not only was that radio melodious, it had words that cut sharp through my skull and inked themselves into my brain. Since day one, I realized I knew all of Moses Sekibogo (Radio)’s songs by heart. Very few have been able to make that impact on me.

In our letter writing days, I am guilty of using some of his songs – with his perfect counterpart Weasel – as dedications to my high school pen pals. The results would always be impressive.

Fast forward, my favourite radio sustained serious injuries recently; the channel broke and for a brief moment, I was also speechless. I read hundreds of eulogies and every time I tried one of my own, the cursor would blink endlessly but still, not a single word dropped. Such a short life but yet so influential, so purpose-driven and by all standards, successful, however imperfect!

We live in a timeless generation. One does not need to live as long as the Old Testament Abraham, Noah or even Mandela to make a mark.

“I didn’t live longer”, will not be an admissible excuse for not living up to one’s potential in eternity I guess.

Jesus Christ only needed 33 years on earth to perform 37 recorded miracles.

Zuckerberg started Facebook when he was not even 25 years. And now, with a discography of more than 200 hit songs, multi-award winning singer, vocalist and songwriter, Radio passed on at 34 years, after upsetting the four hitherto top Ugandan music megastars. He was the first Ugandan to be nominated for the coveted BET Awards, and he had more global appeal than most politicians and professionals with PhDs.

How did he achieve this? Three words: talent, dedication and hustle. At The Workshop Uganda, we have a huge poster of Ross Simmond’s wise words on the wall: “Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.”

Even with his imperfections, Radio has been one of the most gifted artistes a maestro who still worked hard.

I first met him in 2013 in Mbarara when the then Member of Parliament, Dr Medard Bitekyerezo, dragged me to the Goodlyfe Crew Concert at Agip Hotel. When I got a chance to chat with him backstage, I told him that I wanted him to sing at my wedding. I also told him that hearing him sing re-affirmed by belief in the existence of God because I believed (and still do) that a human alone cannot have so much talent.

Although Radio will not be able to sing at my wedding, his art and music will manifest and live on long after my big day. My children will live and love his craft the same way I love Philly Lutaya’s. He is an icon whose life inspired many. That is what a legacy is.

BY NICHOLAS OPOLOT
Typically, my new timetable for LLB3 has been the most inconvenient since my arrival here as a new student. For the most part, I have to attend class from 8am to 7pm for three days straight a week.
I am quite surprised because Uganda Christian University boasts of many amenities that enable recreational use.
However, the timetable and academic curriculum structures disfavour students from participating in extra-curricular activities apart from those required to earn a degree. These may include hobbies and social, sports, cultural, or religious activities.
Research has shown that extra-curricular activities (ECAs) enrich students’ experience, develop students with extra skills, help them cope with stress, and provide them with added advantages to increase their employability.
Clearly, I have been subjected to study for an average of 11 hours with barely time to participate in any co-curricular activities. This is not much different from other students who share a mutual concern in studying for longer hours.
This has created intellectually overstuffed students who are socially impotent to engage their abilities to their maximum potential. In reality, the system here has created socially flawed intellectuals whose contribution to society is limited to merely paper proposals.
While it’s important to pursue excellence through studies, it’s also critical for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. This helps them achieve an understanding of what lies outside their classroom experience. And there is life outside the classroom!
Unfortunately, students have been deprived of extra skills development which ought to be embedded in their learning programmes so as to put that knowledge to use. Students can use these co-curricular activities to meaningfully shape their future.
In an era with tremendous changing trends which are competitive in the employment sector, having just a mere degree won’t cut it. So the question is, how do universities broaden their curricula to create opportunities for students to engage in more practical extra-curricular activities?
Universities such as UCU have the obligation to promote more benefits which attract students to thrive not only academically but socially and beyond their calling.
The University should strive to provide a refreshing and transformative experience through which students can position themselves for timely opportunities which places them in varied roles to undertake in their future endeavours.
There is need to recognize the value and significance of the academic curriculum along with extra-curricular activities in developing the range and skills set for graduates.
The weakness in UCU’s colonial curriculum is that it doesn’t enable students to develop their relevant subject knowledge, academic literacy and a range of complementary abilities which in this regard includes co-curricular activities.
What’s really more important is that these activities are effective for class study because of the holistic experience gained. It leads to professional career and personal development.
Besides my law studies, I work part-time as a journalist, salesman, researcher and photographer, among others. During my leisure, I get to jog, workout and play badminton. All this has been possible because of my balance between work and studies. However, this all stands to waste if I spend all day in class compared to my colleagues in other universities that have flexible study schedules.
In my opinion, students must be accorded ample opportunity to do volunteer work, entrepreneurial start-up incubation schemes, clubs and societies, besides their class schedules.
These activities help students to seize opportunity and make sense of their responsibility for their future.
Gone are the days when education was a rite of passage for those who were just pedestrian passengers in this academic journey. One must now show proof of academic validation which sounds more convincing if you have had co-curricular exposure beyond the classroom “glass bubble” which is a limiting experience.
ECAs are also important for higher education institutions and form a part of their public image, adding to their prestige and reputation. ECAs can serve a double purpose by offering a means of stress management and serving as an informal teaching tool for the development of generic/employability skills.
Therefore, co-curricular activities must be re-defined and assessed in Uganda Christian University since they remain an integral element of the learning process. Adapting to this tool of academic assessment helps to increase output – offering the skills and values necessary for a learner’s development. The University is losing sight of its motto: a complete education for a complete person.

Early this month Vilma Achieng was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the National Basketball League playoffs after leading her side to winning the title.
She also won the best rebounder, top scorer and best centre in the Zone V Club championship where the team won bronze.
Achieng was born on 23, 1993, in Siayi County, western Kenya, to the late Joseph Owino and Rose Akinyi.
She went to Wera Primary School from 1998 to 2007 before joining Raliew Secondary School for her O-level from 2008-2011.
She previously played volleyball and football before she decided to concentrate on basketball.

Joining Lady Canons
Uganda Christian University (UCU) administration, with the help of an old friend and former Canons player, Robert Mugabe, advised her to join the Lady Canons despite her having wished to play aboard. She accepted the offer.
“While on the team, I began improving as a player each day and built a lot of personal confidence,” she said of her acceptance.

Awards
In 2015, Achieng was named the MVP in that season’s National Basketball League. After consulting teammates, Coach Nicholas Natuhereza made her captain.
In 2014, she had also been voted the league’s top scorer and best rebounder. under her leadership, Lady Canons have managed to win the championship for three years in a
row (2015-2017).
Emmanuel Kiguyi, the Lady Canons tactician, says Achieng is an amazingly gifted
sportsperson who has grown as a player and leader in the past few seasons.
“I think she has finally become comfortable and confident in her role as a team leader and I am confident there is more to come from her,” he says.
on any given night, he says, she is capable of being the most dominant force in Uganda women basketball if she puts her mind to it and this is the next challenge she has to take on.
She was impressed for having won the MVP but is now focusing on the new challenge ahead, she said, when contacted.

Academics and sports
She says advanced preparations help her to balance the two.
Despite having many other achievements, Achieng who is on a full sports scholarship plans to play professional basketball outside the region.
She is a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education.